Allalinhorn, switzerland

The next morning, we headed into Saas Fee and parked in the multi storey car park, and then on to the lift system to take us up to the top of the glacier. This involved taking the two stages of the main lift to Felskinn, and then the Metro Alpin to Mittleallalin..  a strange underground train that was damp and dripping, with the seats angled and staggered.

At the top station we exited out to the top of the piste .. a wide open area, where several parties were busily "warming up" whilst some inappropriate music was blasting out of tinny speakers.

We edged past then heading across the pistes trying not to loose height until we reached the point where we would leave the marked trails and head up to the col.

There were several parties around us, as we headed diagonally upwards to the steep section below the col.

The steep section did cause us a few palpitations especially as we performed a number of kick turns at delicate points.

The col brought some cooling breeze, and a fantastic view towards the Matterhorn. We also took to opportunity to grab a quick breather, before pushing on to the summit.

From the col the slope started off fairly wide and open over a number of false summits.

Finally at the rock barrier we made a ski depot with all the other parties, before heading for the summit on foot.


We paused for photos at the summit, and the great views.

Back to the ski depot, and then we were on the way down. the top slopes were relatively simple, and we had no difficulty with the wide slopes.

From the col the key section was the steep part, which was hard and icy when we ascended, but in the hot sun had softened so when we got to it was a kind of heavy powder, and we skied it with technique number one ... single turns.

Once back on the piste we headed over to Felskinn and over to Eginnerjoch, keeping high so as not to have to put the skins on. From here there was a rat-trak path to the Britannia hutte ... very horizontal and involved a lot of poleing and we eventually put the skins on.

The further down the track we went the heavier the cloud and mist became until we could hardly see where we were going, and glad there was the track.

Eventually the hut appeared out of the mist, and we thankfully headed for the refuge.

This had been a day for making up for the last time I had attempted the Allalinhorn, and I had reached the summit.